“There’s one guy that can change this offense and that’s Tyler Eifert,” Buoniconti, a Notre Dame alum, said of the 6-6 Fighting Irish tight end and former receiver.

“But I’m not sure the Dolphins have the vision to get him,” Buoniconti said. “If he stays healthy, he will re-write the tight end record books. He’s that good. If the Dolphins had any sense of wanting to improve the team down the middle and open it up for other receivers, this is the guy. He’s a gem.

I am 100% with Buoniconti. Eifert is a guy that has the potential to be like another Rob Gronkowski and Miami should absolutely look to target him.

In fact, I would trade out of our number two pick and get this kid in the later first round. Rookie salaries are much more friendly these days and Miami needs play makers. Taking him at 12 obviously doesn't make sense but from perhaps pick 20 on, you hope Miami gets more aggressive.

Eifert is a guy that has the potential to be like another Rob Gronkowski ...

That's what I would think since he's a former receiver and is a good blocker, but Russ Lande compares him more to Heath Miller or Kyle Rudoph.

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But Sporting News analyst Russ Lande said Eifert “is not a guy like Rob Gronkowski who will run away from people and run people over.” Some evaluators have raised Heath Miller and Kyle Rudolph as more appropriate comparisons.

Buoniconti has the right idea, but it just came across too strong. Eifert in my opinion will become a force and a future pro bowler. It might be too much for Miami to take him at 12, but once again, I hope they trade back into the late part of the first round and snag him!

I'm not sure if I'd want a tight end taken in the first round, but that is becoming a very dependable playmaker position as linebackers are having problems covering them. According to this article from last year, the bust potential is low.

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Best first-round tight ends of the last decadeBy Gregg Rosenthal NFL.com

There have been a lot of articles written about the dearth of first-round running backs selected of late. But the reality is that more running backs were taken in the first round than quarterbacks over the last decade.

If you want a position truly underrepresented in the first round, tight end is the better pick. We haven't seen two tight ends taken in the first round since 2006, and we probably won't see any taken that high in 2012, for a second consecutive season.

Here are ATL's best first-round tight end picks over the last 10 years. As always, we are basing the ranking on past performance with future expectations mixed in. We discussed our best quarterback and running back picks previously.

The bust rate of first-round tight ends over the last decade is exceptionally low. Guys like Lewis, Gresham, and Graham were good picks; solid starters. Watson is second-to-last on this list, but even he was a reasonably productive player.

Dave excellent article and IF Miami decided to draft Eifert at 12, the guy is a day one starter talent, so IMO that is not a wasted pick and it is a need upgrade on an offense that desperately needs upgrading.

Grab Mike Wallace in Free agency, then you have two immediate upgrades to the offense. However, my strategy is still draft a starter for the defense, then trade one of your two's and another pick to go Back into the first round especially if Eifert lasts past pick 20 and you just get the kid.

I see him baring injury being around the NFL a long time helping an offense.